Info

Visitors

Here you will find everything you need to plan your visit to the Lilu Light Festival Lucerne in advance, so that all you have to do at the end is let yourself be illuminated.

PRICES AND TICKETS

You can marvel at around 20 light installations around Lucerne’s lake basin and in the old town free of charge. You can buy tickets for the Lilu guided tours and the light shows in the ticket shop.

Ticket-Shop

Arrival and departure

We recommend travelling to and from the event by public transport.

Sit back, enjoy and do something good for the environment. Railaway supports this during the eleven days of the festival with an increased offer of discount tickets from/to Lucerne. The Lilu tour can be started directly from the station.

Gastronomy & Hotels

Various hotels in the city of Lucerne have created attractive accommodation offers and the variety of restaurants offers something for everyone. Combine your visit to Lilu with one or more overnight stays and extend your stay in the beautiful city of lights.

Overview Hotels

Overview Restaurants

Discover the region during the day with the Tell-Pass

A magical play of light: whether during the day with the Tell Pass on the mountain or in the evening in the city
The Tell Pass is the ticket for Central Switzerland and the perfect complement to your stay at the Lilu. Enjoy the light and the warming rays of sunshine on the mountains of Central Switzerland above the fog during the day and be enchanted by the light spectacle of Lilu in the evening. With the Tell-Pass, you can experience the diversity of Central Switzerland with just one ticket and travel by train, bus, boat and numerous mountain railways to the various excursion destinations in the region. With the Stoos, Rigi, Titlis and Brienzer Rothorn mountain railways, four of the most spectacular cableways in Central Switzerland are also included in the winter Tell-Pass ticket.

Tell-Pass

Installations & artists

Most of the artists are from Switzerland, including Lucerne and the surrounding area. However, we are looking forward to welcoming artists from all over Europe again this year.

The light installations are located in central places in the middle of the city, at well-known sights and along the lake basin.

Miscellaneous

The Lilu Light Festival Lucerne takes place in all weathers. We ask visitors to dress appropriately for the weather. Warm clothing and shoes suitable for winter will help you brave the sometimes chilly temperatures in January.

There are plenty of public toilets in the city. In addition, some restaurants make their “nice toilets” available. Here is an overview.

The organiser accepts no liability in the event of theft.

Responsibility

The festival management of the Lilu Light Festival Lucerne takes its responsibility in the area of sustainability seriously. Sustainable action has been a matter of course for us since the beginning of the festival.

Sustainability

Are you interested in our sustainability efforts? Here you can find some information about our activities:

When selecting projects, sustainable aspects are taken into account (quality, material, costs, effort, etc.).
The Lilu Light Festival Lucerne seeks cooperation with local partners, e.g. in the areas of technology, gastronomy, hotels, etc.. This promotes short transport routes, local jobs and strengthens the economic cycle in Central Switzerland.
The catering stands work with bio-based crockery. In addition, all partners are encouraged to separate waste and dispose of it properly.
In the area of infrastructure and visitor guidance, reusable materials are used wherever possible.
The cooperation with Railaway enables easy and uncomplicated arrival and departure by public transport.
The cooperation with Lucerne Hotels to promote overnight accommodation increases the average length of stay in Lucerne and strengthens the economy.
Most of the light installations are accessible without obstacles. The Lilu Light Festival Lucerne is supported by the Cerebral Foundation.
During set-up and dismantling as well as during the festival, most of the crew will be on the road with Cargovelos. This allows construction materials and tools to be transported in an environmentally friendly way.
Artists and crew will travel by train whenever possible.
As accommodation for artists and crew, two hotels will be considered that are part of the sustainability programme Swisstainable.

Inclusion

The Lilu Light Festival Lucerne is aimed at all generations. An age restriction only applies to special events.

The Lilu is largely accessible without obstacles. For people with walking difficulties, the tour is possible with minor route adjustments (see festival plan). Please note that the alleys and squares in the old town are predominantly cobblestone and assistance may be required. Accessible toilets are available and can be used with the Eurokey. Some indoor installations have reserved areas for wheelchair users. If you have any questions, please contact us by email: hello[at]lichtfestivalluzern.ch

Questions?

Energy

When you think of a light festival, the topic of energy automatically comes to mind. Of course, we deal with this topic very responsibly.

Every year, Lilu rents the equipment it actually needs from its partners. This way, the festival management can ensure that the equipment is maintained and state-of-the-art. Energy consumption is very low thanks to modern technologies.
Through a partnership with ewl (energie wasser luzern), we obtain ecological Lucerne hydroelectricity. This is produced in harmony with nature and the animals, among other things, in the heart of Lucerne (Mühlenplatz). There is a fish ladder and a beaver ramp on site so that the animals on water and on land can overcome the Reuss weir and the Mühlenplatz small hydroelectric power plant effortlessly and safely.
The street lighting at the staged locations is switched off as far as possible.
The Lilu Village: A light comes on! In the village, the focus is on sensitising festival visitors to the topic of energy.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have an important question on the tip of your tongue? Perhaps we have already answered it below.

What is the best place in the church?

Our light shows offer an all-round enchanting experience in the church. The show is projected onto the walls in such a way that a unique experience can be guaranteed from any seat in the church.

Is there no music at all for the "normal" light shows?

If there is no live music during the light shows, you don't have to sit in a quiet church. Even without live music, our light art is framed by suitable and captivating musical accompaniment.

What music is played during the normal light show?

The music that enchants you in the world of colour and light is different every year. Let us surprise you.

Do I have to print out the ticket?

We need the QR code on the ticket to enter the church. You can show us this in printed form or on your mobile phone or iPad.

Do I need a ticket for the Lilu? Which installations are free / chargeable?

The tour of the city is free of charge. If you would like to book our light shows or a guided tour, these offers are subject to a charge and you can book them online.

Is a guided tour necessary? Can I visit the Lilu / the light installations on my own?

On our guided tour you will receive exciting background information about the light festival and the light installations. You can also visit the light installations on your own and either find out more about them on our website or simply get inspired on site.

How long does the tour last?

The tour of the city takes about 2 hours. Of course, it depends on how long you let yourself be enchanted by each light installation.

Can I exchange tickets?

Yes, you can exchange tickets in advance free of charge, subject to availability. No cancellations/refunds are possible.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

A large part of the tour is accessible without barriers. There are individual installations that are not accessible. Our festival map sheds light on the tour in terms of route adjustments. Please note that the alleys and squares in the Old Town are mostly cobblestone and assistance may be needed.

When are the installations lit up?

The tour is illuminated from 6pm to 10pm. If you're lucky, you'll see one or two illuminated works of art beforehand.

Are the seats in the church numbered? Is there free seating?

The seats in the church are not numbered, you can sit wherever you like and there is room.

Do the guided tours / the Lilu also take place in bad weather?

The guided tours and the Lilu Light Festival Lucerne itself also take place in bad weather.

Are there any discounts with a disabled pass / LZ Abo Pass / Raiffeisen /...?

There are currently no benefits from our partners.

How long do the light shows last?

The light shows last approx. 25-30 minutes. If the show is booked in combination with a live concert, it lasts approx. 50 minutes.

How can I apply with a light installation?

We are currently not accepting any project submissions. The next call for projects will take place in spring 2025. All information will then be available here on the website. We look forward to your submission!

Is there a box office?

There is a box office for the light shows. However, we cannot guarantee that there will be tickets available for the light shows at the box office every evening. We therefore recommend that you reserve your tickets online.

Can dogs be taken into the light shows?

Your dogs are very welcome on the free tour of the city. Your four-legged friend is best left outside during the light shows in the buildings. There are lots of spectators, loud music and sometimes rapidly changing light effects. For these reasons, we do not allow dogs into the light shows.